In Kunning Palace, Nanny Wang had already passed the news of their unconsummated marriage to Empress Cheng. Naturally, the Empress also knew about the little incident outside. No matter how Jiang Fenghua did it, she had saved her dignity after all.
Empress Cheng raised her eyebrows and said lightly: "If Jiang Fenghua is capable, consummation of marriage is just a matter of time. From what I saw today, I know I have chosen a good princess consort for Shang'er."
"The prince is so supportive, I think he likes the princess." Nanny Xi said again, "The Ninth Princess is too ignorant of the rules. She didn't even come in to pay her respects to the Empress even when she was at the palace gate. I really don't know how the imperial concubine taught her."
"Sooner or later, she will suffer." Empress Cheng also hated Xie Ling'er.
Nanny Xi gloated, "Ever since the prince's marriage was decided, the imperial concubine went to His Majesty and cried. Saying that Miss Su and our prince are in love with each other, and wanted to ask for a favor for Miss Su. In the end, the emperor rejected the imperial concubine with a word of honor. She looked so ugly at that time. His Majesty can be said to have vented the anger for the Empress. It was still the Empress who was wise to ask for the imperial decree before the imperial concubine could do it."
Thinking of this, the Empress's face instantly darkened, "She instigated her niece to seduce my son and make Shang'er bewitched. Since Shang'er likes her, I will not do anything to break up the couple and hurt the relationship between mother and son. I will make her a concubine."
"Your Majesty is wise." Nanny Xi flattered.
Empress Cheng sneered, "Although Shang'er is a legitimate son, he is rarely loved by the emperor. Now that the crown prince has not been appointed, the emperor has many sons, and they are fighting for their lives openly and secretly. In addition, the emperor is becoming more and more suspicious. He is afraid that my son will get help from the Su family, so he will naturally not agree." "Shang'er needs to hide his shortcomings now. He is at the age to discuss marriage. Marrying the daughter of a powerless tutor will reassure the emperor. The Jiang family is a scholarly family, so they are barely worthy of him."
The emperor also intended to warn the Duke of Heng and be on guard against the Cheng family.
The emperor and the empress each have their own thoughts. The emperor was able to grant the marriage, and Empress Cheng felt like she had hit the jackpot.
...
At this time, the maid entered the inner hall and reported: "Your Majesty, the prince and the princess consort have arrived at the main hall."
Empress Cheng stroked her hair, took Nanny Xi's arm and stood up from her seat, "Let's go and see this beautiful daughter-in-law of mine." She chose the daughter of the Jiang family for another reason, which was that Master Jiang had no power and would be easier to control in the future.
The magnificent palace with carved beams and painted rafters was solemn and elegant. The whole palace showed majesty and nobility. With such a grand occasion, the queen's palace was the most magnificent, except for the Chengqian Palace where the emperor lived.
Jiang Fenghua and Xie Shang were led into the main hall to wait. She looked straight ahead and was neither humble nor arrogant, always maintaining a dignified posture.
She thought to herself: Concubine Su and Empress Cheng were fighting openly and secretly. In front of the emperor, Concubine Su always suppressed Empress Cheng. Although the empress was the master of the main palace, her relationship with the emperor was as shallow as paper. She had been depressed all her life because she was not favored by her husband.
Thinking of this, Jiang Fenghua's mouth curled slightly. She was really like herself, but the empress was very smart. She had been planning for the position of empress dowager all her life, and she had been obsessed with Xie Shang's love, so stupid.
At this time, the Empress straightened her face and walked in and sat upright on the couch.
Xie Shang hurriedly saluted, "This son pays respects to the Imperial mother."
Jiang Fenghua also knelt down respectfully, "This Wangfei pays respects to the Imperial mother."
"No need to be polite, get up!" Empress Cheng stared at Jiang Fenghua and said with a smile, "Shang'er, why don't you help your wife quickly."
"Yes." Xie Shang helped Jiang Fenghua up in a proper manner.
She stood up, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
At this time, Nanny Xi brought tea again. Jiang Fenghua took it and walked forward, "Imperial mother, please have some tea." The empress took it and took a sip and put it down, and asked the palace maid to bring a tray with several exquisite jewelry on it, as a gift. She took it respectfully, thanked her again, and served more tea to her mother-in-law, and the time passed in such a boring way.
The Empress suddenly said, "I also heard about what happened outside the palace just now. Shang'er wants to take her as a concubine. Do you have any objections?"
"Imperial mother, I have no objection. When I get back to the Duke of Heng Estate, I'll arrange for the prince to take a concubine." Jiang Fenghua's face was calm and her attitude was respectful.
The Empress frowned slightly. She was better than Su Tingwan in appearance, but her personality was a little softer. I am afraid she is not a match for Su Tingwan, the scheming woman.
The Empress asked Nanny Xi to invite them to sit down, and took Jiang Fenghua's hand affectionately, praising: "My daughter-in-law here is better than all the women in Shengjing City. I really like her beautiful appearance."
Jiang Fenghua was shy and timid, "Imperial mother, you are too kind. I am not that good." She secretly glanced at Xie Shang.
The Empress saw it and said, "If I say you are good, then you are good. Fenghua, your nickname is Ruan Ruan. From now on, I will call you Ruan Ruan like your mother."
Jiang Fenghua felt flattered and said, "Okay." Her delicate appearance was pure and harmless, as if she was an extremely obedient and easy-to-use chess piece.
In her previous life, Jiang Fenghua was not liked by Xie Shang, and she did not listen to the Empress, so she became a discarded pawn in front of the Empress. Later, Su Tingwan's methods were really clever. Xie Shang almost broke the mother-son relationship with the Empress for her. Even after Su Tingwan took the throne of the Empress, Concubine Su and Empress Cheng had to share the title of Empress Dowager, which made her so angry that she vomited blood. In this life, she is willing to be the Empress's chess piece, even if she has to use any means to reach the top of the Empress.
After breakfast, Xie Shang left alone on the pretext of going to the imperial study, and Jiang Fenghua stayed to talk to the Empress.
Jiang Fenghua sat on the soft stool dignifiedly and politely. The empress said frankly, "It's been only less than two days since the wedding, and you really want Shang'er to marry a concubine?"
"I can't change anything even if I don't want to. It's better to let them get married. Isn't that what the imperial mother thinks?" The more she tried to stop him, the more he would go against her. It's better to let him go.
Her facial features were delicate and beautiful, and her expression was as calm as the breeze. There was no ripple in her crystal clear eyes, as if she really didn't mind.
Empress Cheng looked at her for a moment, and a smile suddenly appeared at the corner of her lips. She was indeed a smart woman.
"With a virtuous wife like Ruan Ruan taking care of Shang'er, I feel relieved." Empress Cheng then brought the topic to the point, "Su Tingwan grew up in the frontier since she was a child, and her temperament is more lively. Shang'er was just a little obsessed because he felt it was new and strange. In the future, when Concubine Su enters the mansion, I will hand you the important task of teaching the concubine. How to teach her, Ruan Ruan may come up with a rule herself. After all, she is just a concubine. Men just need to be coaxed more, and he will naturally come to your room."
"I know." Jiang Fenghua's ears blushed, and she lowered her head slightly, her vision fell on the teacup in front of her. The Empress was trying to win her over, and she had to respond no matter what.